# Insomnia vs Powerduck: Pricing and Lock-In

**Short answer:** Insomnia offers a free local tier and paid plans; Powerduck keeps the desktop and Hub hosting free within plan limits and exports portable static artifacts. The deeper difference is lock-in: a client vault and a platform are harder to leave than a set of generated files.

## What the pricing shapes reward

A classic client prices seats and features around the client and its cloud. A local-first studio keeps the work in files and hosts within plan limits, so a larger surface does not push you across a per-seat gate.

## The side-by-side

| Property | Insomnia | Powerduck |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Local work | Free | Free |
| Hosting | Paid tiers | Hub within plan |
| Artifacts | Client vault | Static, portable |
| Exit cost | Export and migrate | Plain files |

## Why lock-in is the real cost

Pricing changes and feature gates are visible. The cost that compounds is the work trapped in a vault or a platform. Portable artifacts keep the decision reversible.

## The honest takeaway

Compare the current prices, but weight the exit cost. A tool that exports the work lets you choose again later; a vault does not.

This is part of the [Powerduck vs Insomnia comparison](https://www.powerduck.com/blog/powerduck-vs-insomnia/). Next, read [the mocking comparison](https://www.powerduck.com/blog/api-mocking-insomnia-vs-powerduck/).